If you asked me several years ago what was my attitude to the community service, you would hear the negative response. I reckon that most of the people have the same point of view on this. Who has ever bothered about doing something without receiving some repayment? It is natural for people to think about their condition and to search for the benefits.
That is the main reason why the community service does not attract people. I changed my mind once when I started working in the volunteer organization. This organization is created with the goal to help the homeless people. My first impression was not too positive and to be honest, I was not sure that there was a need for me to enter this organization. I agree that people who have not their own homes should be protected and supplied with the necessary things but I was not sure it should be done by the volunteers. Why doesn’t the government create a company with the employees and pay them for the completed work? It sounds good but thinking so, I forget about important things.
I forget that the money is not the most significant part of our lives and first of all we should have the love and brotherly attitude to the others. All of us are living on the Earth that is a habitat for humanity, and we were not placed here by chance. If we are living together, we have the responsibility for each other. We should help anyone who is in need and be sympathetic to others. That is what the community service teaches us: to do the good things not waiting to receive something instead. I started understanding it when I just began working in the organization.
I helped to cook the dinners for those who have nothing to cook with and was asking myself a question: “Why am I doing this?”. That time I understand that I do this work because I love those people and want to make their life easier. I was not because if the obligation, it was because I wanted to do so. Nobody will pay me, hardly anybody will say “thank you,” but I still wanted to help others. I found out that community service helps us to understand lots of things we have never thought about before. It forces us to ponder over the motives of our daily actions and the results of them.
It also helps us to place our priorities properly. You are working for the welfare of the society and put your personal need on the second stage. After the significant time of being a part of the volunteer organization, I realized that I was not as selfish as I had been before. Community service taught me to notice others people that surrounded me and become the real part of the society, not only a factual part of it. I realized that it is not painful to work for community service and all the lessons I have learned will have a significant influence on my future life. The construction of the community service requires people working in the team.
I am sure that it is another big advantage that should not be omitted. When you are working in a team, you communicate with others, and this communication could change a lot in your life. First of all, you have the chance to learn from the others. Community service does not require any specific education or qualification to become a member of it. Obviously, not everyone is aware of the things perfectly, and that is a good chance to learn from someone who is more qualified.
I have never been a good cooker, but the time spent on the organization’s kitchen definitely taught me a lot. Now I can surely say that I can cook a good dinner. Communication allows people to share the experience, the skills and help each other to improve. It is also great fun working together as you become friends, always sharing your stories and jokes. I hope my reflection on community service will help others to change their mind and stop thinking only about their own problems. We are not the only who lives on the others, and the communication is the most beautiful treasure all of us have.
The communicating while doing something good together is the great opportunity to state your priorities. It is also a chance to get to know the new things and to obtain the new skills from other participants who are more qualified than you. I did understand earlier how great it is to spend the time with others, not thinking about the waste of my time. I finally understand that not only material repayment is important. I received lots of emotions and the feeling of being happily satisfied, and that is much better than money.
